Nanny accused of repeatedly trying to suffocate infant in her care free on bond after facing judge

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August 17, 2012 9:49:45 AM PDT

HOUSTON --

A nanny who was allegedly caught on camera trying to suffocate a 4-month-old baby is free on bond after facing a judge this morning.

Tirza Magana, 48, made her first court appearance. She worked for the baby's parents in Midtown for five months when the parents became worried that the baby was lethargic. After checking the nanny cam video, they told police they saw Magana nearly suffocating their baby several times every day for about a month, and carrying her around by the head and also tossing her in the crib.

"When you decide to have a nanny or someone come into your home, you can do a criminal background check. Of course there are ways to do it online. However, you still need to be incredibly cautious because you may not know about that person's dealings with other agencies, including child care licensing or Child Protective Services," said Gwen Carter with Child Protective Services.